The songs that put poetry in emotion

Wise men say only fools rush in. But that hasn't stopped countless romantics falling head over heels in love.

And listening to Elvis Presley while they're doing it.

The lyrics to his song Can't Help Falling In Love are the most popular among those who have been hit by Cupid's arrow, a survey has revealed.

Researchers asked people to match their favourite lyrics to particular moods. When it comes to love, the top choices were Elvis's classic ballad and the Whitney Houston show-stopper I Will Always Love You.

But when love has died and we're breaking up, we turn to Gloria Gaynor's anthem of defiance, I Will Survive.

The song of preference when we are depressed is Everybody Hurts by REM. Art Garfunkel singing Bridge Over Troubled Water ranks equally highly for those feeling low.

For those who have suffered bereavement, Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli's Time To Say Goodbye is the song that consoles.

Those looking for motivation most frequently play Don't Stop Me Now by Queen.

When we're in party mood, it's Celebration by Kool and the Gang. When we're behind the wheel, it's Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf. And when it comes to weddings, the top song is Love Is All Around by Wet Wet Wet (which featured in the film Four Weddings And A Funeral).

When we're in holiday mood the choice is no great surprise - Holiday by Madonna.

The National Year of Reading campaign questioned 4,000 people between 18 and 65 on the importance of song lyrics. It found 90 per cent felt knowing the words helped gain an appreciation of a song.

More than half said lyrics had the power to change moods and inspire memories, most notably when it came to affairs of the heart. But 50 per cent say it is harder than it used to be to find accurate lyrics because of the decline in sales of CDs and LPs, which traditionally had the words printed on their sleeves.

Although lyrics can be found on the internet, they are not always sanctioned by the artist and are frequently inaccurate.

More than three quarters of those questioned wanted lyrics to be made available with songs that are downloaded. The rapper Mr Midas, who recently won best newcomer at the Urban Music Awards, said:

'It gives you a bigger and better connection with the song and the artist. I want people to be able to experience my lyrics as well as my songs.'

Honor Wilson Fletcher, director of the National Year of Reading, said: 'What surprised us in this survey was how it goes across all the generations.

'It didn't matter if you were 18 or 65, the emotional importance of lyrics was completely consistent.'